First of all, "days standing in front of the quilting machine" would be FOUND days for me!!! lol But I wanted to add that I've found quilting panels to be my best free motion practice. I outline the pictures to give them dimension. I love doing the patriotic eagle panels for Quilts of Valor. . all the feathers, etc. (not free motion type feathers, . . . outlining the ones on the panel.) But doing panels has given me lots of good practice re speed and smooth curves. Onebyone's comment re kind of thread caught my eye, too. I need to remember that!